Ball picks up injury as England take lead over CA XI in Ashes warmup

Jake Ball added to England’s pace bowling woes with an ankle injury as the tourists took a lead over a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide on Thursday.

The CA XI declared their first innings 60 runs adrift to get in five overs at the tourists under the lights at Adelaide Oval, but England reached stumps on the second day of the four-day game at five without loss.

Mark Stoneman was not out on four with under pressure Alastair Cook on one.

Nottinghamshire quick Ball appeared to lose his footing in his delivery stride and turned his right ankle as he tried to bowl the fifth ball of his fourth over.

Ball collapsed on the pitch and was surrounded by concerned team-mates as medics hurried onto the field.

He left the ground unaided and was later diagnosed with a sprained ankle, sitting out the remainder of the day’s play to have ice treatment.

Ball’s setback comes after fellow pace bowler Steven Finn was ruled out of the tour earlier this week due to a knee injury, with Tom Curran scheduled to join the tourists on Friday.

The England team is already without star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who remains at home awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into his involvement in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub on September 25.

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